Who are the 10 best Broncos players of all time?

The Denver Broncos are one of the most storied franchises in the NFL.

With three Super Bowl titles, the franchise has boasted many big-time stars over the years. This makes it very difficult to answer the question: Who are the greatest players in the history of the club?

FOX Sports Research took on the task of answering this question, crunching the numbers and ranking the 10 best Broncos of all time.

While there are obvious choices near the top, there are also some surprising names that made our list.

What’s your favorite Bronco position?

Let’s take a look:

10. Karl Mecklenburg (1983-1994)

An aggressive linebacker who spent his entire career in Denver, Karl Mecklenburg recorded 79 sacks in 12 seasons – good for the third most in franchise history. He is one of three players in Broncos history to record four sacks in a game, and the only player to do it twice. Mecklenburg was selected to five All-Pro teams and six Pro Bowls before being inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2001.

9. Floyd Little (1967-1975)

The first 1,000-yard rusher in Broncos history, Floyd Little was a versatile running back who spent his entire nine-year career in Denver. At the time of his retirement, he was Denver’s all-time leader in scrimmage yards (8,741) and scrimmage touchdowns (52) – and still ranks in the top five in both categories. When combining his skills as a returner, Little is second all-time in all-purpose yards (12,157) in Broncos history. He made one All-Pro team and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times, eventually being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

8. Rod Smith (1995-2006)

Easily the greatest wide receiver in Broncos history, no player has more receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389) or receiving touchdowns (68) than Smith in Denver’s storied history. He spent all 12 years of his career with the Broncos, and is the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving yards (860) and receiving touchdowns (six) – with two Super Bowl titles under his belt. Smith made two All-Pro teams and was selected to three Pro Bowls en route to being inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame.

7. Randy Gradishar (1974-1983)

Considered one of the anchors of the “Orange Crush” defense, Randy Gradishar was an outstanding linebacker who spent all 10 seasons of his career with the Broncos. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, and is one of only 10 linebackers to have at least seven Pro Bowls, 20 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. The other nine are all Hall of Famers. Gradishar finished his career with five All-Pro selections and seven Pro Bowl nods, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

6. Steve Atwater (1989-1998)

One of the toughest safeties in NFL history, Steve Atwater was the Broncos’ second baseman for 10 seasons – playing in 167 games and winning two Super Bowls in Denver. In his 1997 season, he had 83 tackles, two interceptions, eight passes defensed, two fumble recoveries and a sack to help the Broncos win their first Super Bowl in franchise history. He registered more than 1,000 career tackles and 24 interceptions, earning three All-Pro selections and eight Pro Bowl nods. Atwater was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.

5. Von Miller (2011-2021)

Super Bowl 50 MVP, Von Miller played a major role in the Broncos’ run to their third Super Bowl title in the 2015 season. With two appearances under his belt – one coming with the Rams – he is tied for the most sacks in Super Bowl history with 4.5. He is currently 16th all-time in sacks with 129.5, 110.5 of those coming with Denver. He holds the franchise records for career sacks, sacks in a single season (18.5), sacks in a game (6.5), sacks in a single postseason (fifth) and sacks in a playoff game (2.5). Miller was selected to seven All-Pro teams and eight Pro Bowls while in Denver, and is currently a member of the Bills.

4. Shannon Sharpe (1990-1999, 2002-2003)

A two-time Super Bowl champion with the Broncos and a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2011, Shannon Sharpe is one of five tight ends with 10,000 receiving yards. His playing for the Chiefs in 2002 is something he will never forget. That day, he totaled 214 receiving yards – setting the NFL single-game receiving record for a tight end. He also ranks fifth in receptions (815) and eighth in touchdown catches (62). Sharpe was selected to five All-Pro teams and eight Pro Bowls.

3. Champion Bailey (2004-2013)

Champ Bailey came out of the gates rushing, becoming the youngest player in NFL history to record three touchdowns in a game in 1999. He spent his first five seasons in Washington before being traded to Denver in the 2004 season, playing in 215 games throughout his career. career – and starts in all but three of those tournaments. Bailey made seven All-Pro teams and earned 12 Pro Bowls before being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019. No defensive player has made more Pro Bowls than him.

2. Terrell Davis (1995-2001)

Although he only played seven seasons, Terrell Davis’ impact on the Broncos was huge. He also appeared in both the Broncos’ Super Bowl titles in 1997 and 1998, rushing for over 2,000 yards in the latter season. Only nine players in NFL history have achieved that milestone. Davis was also the Super Bowl MVP in the 1997 campaign, rushing for 157 yards and three touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.

1. John Elway (1983-1998)

A two-time Super Bowl champion and MVP for the Broncos, John Elway was the league’s all-time leader in wins (148) when he retired at the end of the 1998 season. He still ranks in the top 10 in that category, as well as earning nine Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro teams during his 16-year career. One of the most memorable moments of his career came in January 1987, when he made a 98-yard touchdown drive to beat the Browns in the AFC title game – later dubbed “The Drive.” Elway was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

RESPECTED

• Gary Zimmerman
• Louis Wright
• Dennis Smith
• Peyton Manning
• Jason Elam
• Mark Schlereth

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